Latest news with #CoRoscommon
BreakingNews.ie
7 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Former TD Colm Keaveney banned from driving for four years
Former Labour and Fianna Fáil TD Colm Keaveney has been banned from driving for four years after refusing to provide a blood or urine sample to gardaí following a late-night incident in Boyle, Co Roscommon. Keaveney (54), of Milltown Road, Tuam, Co Galway pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen under Section 12 of the Road Traffic Act and failing to stop after a collision. Advertisement Appearing before Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on Tuesday, Judge Sandra Murphy imposed a €250 fine and a four-year disqualification from driving. Other charges, including no insurance and no licence, were struck out after he produced valid documents. The incident occurred on October 11th, 2024, when gardaí observed a Ford Focus being driven without lights through Boyle. The vehicle veered across the road and collided with a car waiting at a junction, but did not stop. When approached, Keaveney appeared intoxicated, was unsteady on his feet, had glassy eyes, and smelled of alcohol. Advertisement He was arrested and brought to Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station, where he refused to provide a blood or urine sample to a designated doctor despite a formal demand. His solicitor said Keaveney had been under significant personal strain, including the recent deaths of both parents and ongoing chronic pain from spinal surgery. She said he had no previous criminal convictions and had asked to see his own doctor at the station, which was not possible. A long-time figure in politics, Keaveney was elected to the Dáil in 2011 as a Labour TD for Galway East. He lost the party whip in 2012 over a vote of conscience on a Government plan to cut an annual care grant as part of the 2013 budget and later joined Fianna Fáil, becoming the first sitting TD to cross directly between the two parties. He lost his Dáil seat in 2016 and later served one term on Galway County Council.
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Former TD Colm Keaveney banned from driving for four years for refusing to provide sample to Garda
Former Labour and Fianna Fáil TD Colm Keaveney has been banned from driving for four years after refusing to provide a blood or urine sample to gardaí following a late-night incident in Boyle, Co Roscommon. Keaveney (54), of Milltown Road, Tuam, Co Galway appeared before Judge Sandra Murphy at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on Tuesday. He pleaded guilty to two offences: failing to provide a specimen under Section 12 of the Road Traffic Act and failing to stop after a collision. The incident occurred on October 11th, 2024, when gardaí observed a Ford Focus being driven without lights through Boyle. READ MORE The vehicle veered across the road and collided with a car waiting at a junction, but did not stop. It was later pulled over on St Patrick Street. When approached, Keaveney appeared intoxicated, was unsteady on his feet, had glassy eyes, and smelled of alcohol. He was arrested and brought to Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station, where he refused to provide a blood or urine sample to a designated doctor despite a formal demand. His solicitor said Keaveney had been under significant personal strain, including the recent deaths of both parents and ongoing chronic pain from spinal surgery. She said he had no previous criminal convictions and had asked to see his own doctor at the station, which was not possible. He is a father of three, including an infant. 'Mr Keaveney is not the sort of person you expect to see before the court,' she said, citing his background and cooperation. Judge Murphy imposed a €250 fine and a four-year disqualification from driving. Other charges, including no insurance and no licence, were struck out after he produced valid documents. A long-time figure in politics, Keaveney began his political career on Tuam Town Council in 1999 and was elected to the Dáil in 2011 as a Labour TD for Galway East. He lost the party whip in 2012 over a vote of conscience on a Government plan to cut to an annual care grant as part of the 2013 budget and later joined Fianna Fáil, becoming the first sitting TD to cross directly between the two parties. He lost his Dáil seat in 2016 and later served one term on Galway County Council.
BreakingNews.ie
18-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (40s) seriously injured after single-vehicle collision in Co Roscommon
A man in his 40s has been seriously injured following a single-vehicle collision in Frenchpark, Co Roscommon on Friday morning. The collision happened on the R370 at Lurgan at 6:00 am. Advertisement The driver, a man aged in his 40s, was conveyed to Sligo University Hospital with serious injuries. No other injuries were reported. The road is currently closed for a technical examination by Forensic Collision Investigators and local diversions are in place. Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward. Any persons who were in the R370 Lurgan area between 5:50am and 6:10am and who may have witnessed the incident should contact investigating gardaí. Any road users who were travelling in this vicinity at the time, and who may have camera footage including dash cam, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí. Gardaí can be contacted at the Castlerea Garda Station on 094 9621630, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Gardaí say investigations are ongoing.
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Irish Times
Judge warned €1.5m spend on temporary courthouse could become latest in series of ‘OPW disasters'
A judge warned the Courts Service it was heading for an Office of Public Works (OPW) style disaster after spending €1.5 million on temporary court facilities in Co Roscommon . In a message to service management, Judge James Faughnan queried the decision to provide just one courtroom in Roscommon Town when two were available in the old building. The judge said he was sure the service would not want a 'light shone' on its lack of foresight in providing sub-par accommodation at a significant cost. Given the 'recent OPW disasters' over the Leinster House bike shelter and security hut , which cost €335,000 and €1.4 million respectively, bad publicity was very likely, Judge Faughnan wrote in an email last September. READ MORE Court sittings have been taking place at the former Fairyland Dance Hall, on the Racecourse Road outside Roscommon Town, since the town's courthouse was closed in late 2022 after falling into disrepair. The judge said he would 'never dream' of going public but that the situation was likely to come to a head. He said that when the temporary accommodation on the outskirts of Roscommon Town was being planned, he specifically asked that a second courtroom be provided. 'The Courts Service, while on notice of this, then spent over €1.5 million without providing a second courtroom,' he wrote. 'I can only imagine that if that got picked up by the media, there would be an awful lot of questions to answer.' He said the expenditure on the temporary accommodation would be 'laughable if it wasn't so serious'. In another message to court management last October, Judge Faughnan said the service had used up 'all the goodwill' extended to them by legal practitioners working in Co Roscommon. He pleaded for a temporary second courtroom on the site, which he believed could be provided at little cost. 'It would lend itself to a timber frame type construction which could be erected speedily,' he wrote. Judge Faughan was among three members of the bench who wrote to the Courts Service outlining serious concerns over their workplace in Co Roscommon. Judge Kenneth Connolly wrote saying he accepted that the old courthouse in Roscommon Town had been shut down because it was in a 'very poor' condition. The courthouse in Roscommon Town was closed in 2022. Photograph: Google Streetview However, he said the new facility had 'not performed' and was 'unsuitable as even a medium-term option'. He said there was little parking, nowhere nearby for jurors or the public to buy food or drink, and that facilities for victims were 'questionable to poor'. A third judge, Keenan Johnson, said the money spent on the temporary facility should have been used to restore the original courthouse. 'I have huge concerns that having vacated the courthouse it will now be allowed to deteriorate to such an extent that the feasibility of returning to it may be put in jeopardy.' He added that they were now 'stuck with the current totally unsatisfactory situation' of having only one courtroom. Asked about the correspondence, the Courts Service said the old Roscommon courthouse had been closed by the OPW on health and safety grounds and that 'significant investment' was required. A spokesperson said the service took 'immediate steps to remedy the situation to ensure, firstly, that the health and safety of all court users was prioritised and secondly, to ensure that sittings continue to be facilitated in Roscommon Town'. The Courts Service's submission in respect of the forthcoming revised National Development Plan includes a mention of Roscommon Courthouse, the spokesperson added.
Irish Times
10-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Inquest hears of ‘considerable failings' after woman (98) dies after developing bed sore
A nursing home has accepted there were 'several considerable failings' in the care of a 98-year-old woman who died last year after developing a back sore. Veronica Ayres was a resident at the Sonas Innis Ree Nursing Home in Ballyleague, Co Roscommon , from January 2023 to March 2024. She died in Portiuncula University Hospital on March 9th and a complaint to the nursing home was subsequently made by her family regarding the care she received. No individual or organisation has been held at fault. READ MORE An inquest into the death of Ms Ayres opened in Gort, Co Galway, on Tuesday. Pathologist Dr Suzanne Schneider explained Mrs Ayres died due to acute cardiorespiratory failure, due to acute suppurative pericarditis in the context of a stage-four pressure ulcer with abscess. Originally from Ballinaheglish, Co Roscommon, Ms Ayres had settled in Liverpool for 66 years before returning to Ireland in 2007. She moved to Innis Ree in 2022, where her family visited her regularly from the UK. Her daughter, Christine McGowan, said her mother experienced repeated bed sores at the nursing home, and it was only at her insistence that a new cushion, suitable to relieve the bed sore, was bought. She said no preventive measures were carried out during her mother's residency. During her final visit on March 4th, 2024, she found her mother in a semiconscious state in her chair, mumbling 'Help me, help me' and appeared to be in a lot of pain. 'We were told she was on strong medication,' Mrs McGowan said. The following evening, she was shown photos of her mother's pressure sore. 'Only at this point was I informed about the pressure sore,' she said, adding that it had grown from 2cm to 18cm and was incapable of healing. 'We were completely shocked,' she said and insisted an ambulance be called immediately. At Portiuncula, her mother was 'screaming in pain'. MS McGowan said she was told in the hospital that with earlier intervention the outcome may have been better. 'At the very least the pain management would have been much more successful,' she said. Guy Walton, a nurse at the Sonas Group, investigated the complaint. He said of four main areas of concern, three were partially upheld and one was upheld. The investigation resulted in a number of recommendations, including mentorship for nursing staff on pain assessment tools anda review of residents' pain management. Improved communication with families was also put in place. The measures had resulted in improved wound management at Innis Ree, the inquest heard. 'Some of the findings of the report, particularly around palliative pain relief and wound care, have been shared across all the Sonas Nursing Homes so that their residents may also benefit,' Mr Walton said. 'Whilst no member of staff at Innis Ree was ever deliberately malicious towards Vera – who was in fact a well-liked and respected resident – we at Sonas have accepted that there were several considerable failings in Vera's care which we deeply regret and we would like to thank Vera's daughter Mrs McGowan for advocating in her mother's memory to ensure the same mistakes do not happen again in the future.' Dr Joyce gave a narrative verdict of death from sepsis arising from a large pressure ulcer on the deceased's back. He said while efforts were made by staff at the nursing home to treat the wound, it continued to deteriorate. 'No individual or organisation is held to be at fault,' Dr Joyce said, and set out a number of recommendations on care improvements.
